Edinburgh Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary History (CSMSH)

The Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary History was set up in 2017 as the School of History, Classics and Archaeology’s leading centre for research into the history of the modern world (c.1750-present).

To give focus to the Centre's activities, the steering committee and the director select a broad, interdisciplinary theme each year, such as “capitalism”, “empire” or “democracy”. This theme determines the research, teaching, knowledge exchange and impact priorities for that year. This thematic flexibility allows the Centre to adapt to the specific expertise of staff members and the interests of students.

The Centre organises a wide range of events, from a regular seminar series and postgraduate colloquia, to one-off public lectures and film screenings. It works closely with the MSc in Contemporary History within the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, and provides a home for all doctoral students who work on the modern world.

It also hosts a three-month postdoctoral fellowship in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at Edinburgh and acts as a focal point for staff funding bids in relevant areas of modern and contemporary history.